News Center

Khan: Improving Hospital Price Transparency

(Jul 16, 2024) Rep. Tarik Khan

Pa. state Rep. Tarik Khan fought for legislation improving price transparency for hospital procedures and bills that patients may be faced with after visiting a hospital. This would ensure that more costs for hospital services are available to patients in advance to prevent unexpected bills causing people to take on medical debt. Read more

 

Bipartisan bill to increase hospital pricing transparency passes state House

(Jul 11, 2024) Rep. Tarik Khan

HARRISBURG, July 11 – A bipartisan bill to increase hospital pricing transparency passed the House Thursday, according to its sponsors Reps. Tarik Khan, D-Phila.; David Rowe, R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata; Benjamin Sanchez, D-Montgomery; K.C. Tomlinson, R-Bucks; Jim Prokopiak, D-Bucks; and Dawn Keefer, R-York. House Bill 2339 would provide state-level oversight based on current federal requirements from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and require hospitals to maintain a publicly available list of all standard charges for hospital items and services. Under the bill, hospitals would be required to display their lists free of charge in a prominent location on the home page of their publicly accessible website. Upon the bill’s 168-34 passage in the House, the representatives issued the following statements. “As a nurse practitioner, all too often my patients are left in the dark on the cost of basic hospital services. This contributes to surprise hospital bills and patient medical debt,” Khan said. “Pennsylvania lags far behind other states for patients and employers to be able to shop around for healthcare. I was proud to work on this bipartisan effort with Rep. Rowe and colleagues to pass this pro-patient, pro-business and pro-consumer bill in the PA House!” “Health care comprises 20% of the United States’ economy, and there’s currently no Read more

 

Khan Fights Hunger, Food Waste

(Jul 09, 2024) Rep. Tarik Khan

PA state Rep. Tarik Khan thanks his House colleagues for passing his bipartisan bill that would help families struggling with food insecurity. Khan's legislation would combat hunger and reduce waste by allowing grocery stores and other food retailers to donate food that has passed its best-by date but is still fit for human consumption. Read more

 

PA House passes bill protecting food donors

(Jul 08, 2024) Rep. Tarik Khan

HARRISBURG, July 8 – Today, the Pennsylvania House passed legislation ( H.B. 2286 ) that would increase surplus food stock for those in need by expanding donor protections. This bipartisan bill, introduced by state Reps. Tarik Khan, D-Phila., and David Rowe, R-Union/Juniata/Mifflin/Snyder, would expand the current immunity from liability for donated food explicitly to include food that has exceeded the labeled shelf-life date but is still fit for human consumption. In Pennsylvania, the donation of food to nonprofit food recovery organizations is protected from limited civil and criminal liability through the Donated Food Limited Liability Act and a provision in Title 42. However, the donation of foods past their recommended label code date is not explicitly protected from liability. “Over 1.2 million Pennsylvanians face food insecurity -- over a quarter of them are kids,” Khan said. “Our bipartisan bill is a win for struggling families, for businesses who are donating these goods, and for our environment as it significantly minimizes waste.” This bill now heads to the Pennsylvania Senate for consideration. Read more

 

Khan Works to Curb Food Waste, Increase Donation

(Jul 03, 2024) Rep. Tarik Khan

There are more than 1.2 million Pennsylvanians facing food insecurity. PA state Rep. Tarik Khan's legislation would help more families struggling to get access to healthy & nutritious foods while also preventing unnecessary waste by allowing unspoiled food that has passed its best-by date to be donated to food banks and other charitable organizations. Khan says he is excited that the bill advanced out of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, and hopes to see it voted on by the #PAHouse soon. Read more

 

Khan's Surgical Smoke Legislation Advances Through House

(Jul 02, 2024) Rep. Tarik Khan

PA state Rep. Tarik Khan worked to advance his legislation designed to protect healthcare workers & patients from toxic surgical smoke. Khan says hospitals should be safe, healing places for both patients and workers. The bipartisan bill passed the House with a 153-49 vote and now goes to the state Senate for consideration. Read more

 

Khan Stands with Nursing Home Workers

(Jul 02, 2024) Rep. Tarik Khan

PA state Rep. Tarik Khan stood with SEIU Healthcare PA nursing home workers to rally for more nursing home support and accountability. Khan says workers need appropriate resources so they can provide the best care possible for our loved ones and will fight for this support as the budget process moves forward. Read more

 

PA House passes bill protecting health care workers from surgical smoke

(Jul 01, 2024) Rep. Tarik Khan

HARRISBURG, July 1 – The Pennsylvania House today passed legislation that would enact additional protections from operating room surgical smoke. The legislation ( H.B. 2283 ) was introduced by state Reps. Tarik Khan, D-Phila., and Tim Bonner, R-Butler/Mercer. The additional protections included in the legislation would ensure that operating rooms utilize surgical smoke evacuation systems to combat the adverse health effects of surgical smoke. “As a nurse, I know the serious and sometimes catastrophic realities of toxic smoke exposure. Hospitals should be healing environments in safe spaces,” Khan said. “I’m proud to coauthor this bipartisan bill with Rep. Bonner to protect health care workers and patients from surgical smoke.” The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has found that surgical smoke may contain toxic gasses, viruses, and bacteria, as well as more than 150 hazardous chemicals, and that burning 1 gram of tissue from surgical smoke has the same effect as breathing in three to six cigarettes. “Taking this measure to combat the adverse effects of surgical smoke will be a great benefit to Pennsylvania’s health care workforce, as well as the patients they serve,” Bonner said. “I am pleased to co-sponsor this bipartisan legislation to protect our patients, hospital workers and health care communities.” House Read more

 

Khan: Protecting Community Access to Healthcare

(Jul 01, 2024) Rep. Tarik Khan

A healthcare worker himself, PA state Rep. Tarik Khan expresses his support for Rep. Lisa Borowski's legislation that would protect access to healthcare by restricting the buying and selling of community hospitals. Read more

 

Khan Celebrates Pride Month

(Jun 28, 2024) Rep. Tarik Khan

PA state Rep. Tarik Khan stands on the steps of the state Capitol to celebrate #pridemonth with his colleagues. Khan, a long-time ally of the LGBTQ+ community, says he is thrilled to be a co-prime sponsor on a package of legislation to protect trans students in schools. Read more

 

Khan Fights to Keep Abortion Safe and Legal in PA

(Jun 28, 2024) Rep. Tarik Khan

Though the U.S. Supreme Court chose not to overturn the right to emergency abortions nationwide, PA state Rep. Tarik Khan reminds Pennsylvanians that the right to choose an abortion is still under attack. Khan vows to continue working with state lawmakers to guarantee access to abortion care in the commonwealth. Read more

 

Khan: Regulating AI in Campaign Ads

(Jun 25, 2024) Rep. Tarik Khan

PA state Rep. Tarik Khan celebrates as his legislation to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in campaign ads advances out of the House State Government Committee. Khan says that as AI continues to evolve, we must ensure the proper safeguards are in place to protect the public from deception. Read more

 

Fiedler, colleagues announce legislation to help schools assess facilities needs and access funds

(Jun 25, 2024) Rep. Tarik Khan

HARRISBURG, June 25 — State Reps. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila.; Lindsay Powell, D-Allegheny; Tarik Khan, D-Phila.; and Tarah Probst, D-Monroe/Pike, today introduced a bill that would create a School Facilities Office within the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The proposed office would be designed to help lawmakers and school district officials assess school facilities so they can adequately address facilities needs across the Commonwealth. “The deterioration of our school buildings is a statewide educational and public health issue, and we need to start funding them with that importance,” Fiedler said. “But if we are going to use millions of dollars in public money, we have to do it wisely and ensure no funds are wasted. We have a chance now to provide our children with the 21st-century learning spaces they deserve -- let's seize the opportunity and do it right.” In 2023, the Commonwealth Court ruled that Pennsylvania’s school funding system is unconstitutional and that it is not enough for students to learn in facilities that are “generally safe,” the facilities “must be safe, and adequate.” "In Pittsburgh, more than 75% of our schools had to resort to remote learning because they lacked air conditioning and proper ventilation," explained Powell. "The need for an organizing office to help schools access local, state and federal dollars for Read more

 

Khan bill prohibiting misuse of artificial intelligence in campaigns heads to full House

(Jun 24, 2024) Rep. Tarik Khan

HARRISBURG, June 24 – Today, the House State Government Committee approved legislation ( H.B. 2353 ) introduced by state Rep. Tarik Khan, D-Phila., that would prohibit the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) in campaigns. “Proud that our bipartisan bill passed in committee today aimed at protecting voters from deceptive AI-generated campaign ads,” Khan said. “Bills like HB 2353 help us safeguard our democracy and ensure people’s trust remains strong in our electoral system.” Under this bill, the dissemination of a campaign advertisement containing an artificially generated impersonation of a candidate would be prohibited if done without consent and with the intent to unduly influence the outcome of the election. Khan is joined by a bipartisan group of legislators in introducing this legislation, including state Reps. Rob Mercuri, R-Allegheny; Roni Green, D-Phila., Bob Merski, D-Erie; and Chris Pielli, D-Chester. This bill now heads to the full House for consideration. Read more

 

Khan Working to End Youth Violence

(Jun 14, 2024) Rep. Tarik Khan

PA state Rep. Tarik Khan presents a $950,000 check to Northern Children Services of Roxborough on behalf of the Commonwealth. These funds will help Northern expand its successful programs teaching at-risk kids conflict resolution and leadership skills, and getting them career ready. Read more

 

Khan Helps Develop an Alzheimer’s Disease Task Force

(Jun 14, 2024) Rep. Tarik Khan

Pa. state Rep. Tarik Khan spoke about legislation aimed at creating an Alzheimer’s Disease Task Force to assist the thousands of patient caregivers living in Pennsylvania. This task force would coordinate across state agencies, advocate for policy, and leverage resources to better respond to the unique and complex needs of those living with Alzheimer's and other dementia and the systems that support them. Read more

 

Health Committee approves Khan’s hospital price transparency bill

(Jun 12, 2024) Rep. Tarik Khan

HARRISBURG, June 12 – Today, the House Health Committee approved legislation ( H.B. 2339 ) authored by state Rep. Tarik Khan, D-Phila., which would make it so that patients are provided with cost estimates for care at hospitals before they receive it. “Our bipartisan bill protects the public by ensuring hospitals are playing by the rules when it comes to being up front about costs to consumers. Most families in my community are paying thousands in out-of-pocket costs when they seek hospital care, and these are the ones that are already insured,” Khan said. “At the very least, Pennsylvanians should be able to know ahead of time what the costs are so they can plan ahead and shop around for care when possible. Our bill ensures hospitals follow federal guidelines for price transparency— which should be the bare minimum in our commonwealth.” This bill would require hospitals to maintain a publicly available list of all standard charges for all hospital items or services. Hospitals would be required to display their lists free of charge in a prominent location (or link) on the home page of their publicly accessible website. It also would provide state-level oversight based on current federal requirements from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding prices charged to patients by hospitals. Khan is joined by a bipartisan group of legislators in introducing H.B. 2339, Read more

 

June 10, 2024 E-Newsletter

(Jun 12, 2024) Rep. Tarik Khan

E-Newsletter from June 10, 2024 Read more

 

May 31, 2024 E-Newsletter

(May 31, 2024) Rep. Tarik Khan

Rep. Khan's e-newsletter from May 31, 2024 Read more

 

Pushing Through for our First Responders

(May 31, 2024) Rep. Tarik Khan

I’ll never forget the faces of the first responders I met during the earliest days of the pandemic. Those police, firefighter, and EMS workers pulled up in their emergency vehicles in the Citizens Bank Park lot for COVID-19 testing. As they rolled down their windows for me to gently swab their noses, I saw workers with running noses and bloodshot eyes. Most of the first responders I swabbed tested positive. Despite whatever personal fears they may have had in those early days— over 1.1 million Americans ended up dying following their COVID exposures—the look of determination and resolve in their eyes made it clear they wanted to do one thing. Push through and get back to their jobs serving the public. As they did during the pandemic, our police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical service professionals spend their days selflessly responding to traumas. They sign up knowing the risk to their bodies and their lives. But often it’s the trauma to their mental health that often proves the greatest challenge. First responders witness scenes of severe injury and death in the course of their work weeks. And some may witness and experience trauma multiple times a day. It is estimated that as many as 1 in 3 police officers, firefighters, and EMS personnel will experience post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI). Persons with PTSI have a 50% chance of developing major Read more

 

Khan: Improving Hospital Price Transparency
Jul 16, 2024

Bipartisan bill to increase hospital pricing transparency passes state House
Jul 11, 2024

Khan Fights Hunger, Food Waste
Jul 09, 2024

PA House passes bill protecting food donors
Jul 08, 2024

Khan Works to Curb Food Waste, Increase Donation
Jul 03, 2024

Khan's Surgical Smoke Legislation Advances Through House
Jul 02, 2024

Khan Stands with Nursing Home Workers
Jul 02, 2024

PA House passes bill protecting health care workers from surgical smoke
Jul 01, 2024

Khan: Protecting Community Access to Healthcare
Jul 01, 2024

Khan Celebrates Pride Month
Jun 28, 2024

Khan Fights to Keep Abortion Safe and Legal in PA
Jun 28, 2024

Khan: Regulating AI in Campaign Ads
Jun 25, 2024

Fiedler, colleagues announce legislation to help schools assess facilities needs and access funds
Jun 25, 2024

Khan bill prohibiting misuse of artificial intelligence in campaigns heads to full House
Jun 24, 2024

Khan Working to End Youth Violence
Jun 14, 2024

Khan Helps Develop an Alzheimer’s Disease Task Force
Jun 14, 2024

Health Committee approves Khan’s hospital price transparency bill
Jun 12, 2024

June 10, 2024 E-Newsletter
Jun 12, 2024

May 31, 2024 E-Newsletter
May 31, 2024

Pushing Through for our First Responders
May 31, 2024